The Heroine Must Die

He paused, then added in a lower tone, “Even if it weren’t for Timothy… we absolutely cannot let them reinforce that seal.”

Before anyone could react, he shoved Gerald aside and stepped into the valley.

“Hey—!”

Too late. His figure disappeared beyond the boundary. Gerald stood there, staring at the empty entrance. “…Damn it.”

Then he turned to Lauren. “We need to notify Mr. Drake. How much longer will he remain in seclusion?”

Lauren shook her head. “I don’t know. But Master… I don’t think Light will kill Herbert.”

Gerald scoffed. “How would you know? Do you know him?”

Lauren hesitated.

“When Light was rampaging across the cultivation world,” Gerald went on, “you were probably still playing with mud. Our grudge with him? I could talk about it for three days and three nights.”

Alright, alright.

“But Master’s seclusion is important too,” Lauren said carefully. “We can’t disturb him lightly.”

Gerald let out a long breath.

“Herbert may be a bastard,” he muttered, “but his foundation is clean. He just barely advanced to Mahayana when his lifespan was nearly exhausted. And now this… Once someone enters Sky-Covering Valley, even if Light doesn’t kill him, he’ll die in there eventually.”

Lauren blinked. “Sect Leader, the valley isn’t completely sealed. People can come out.”

Gerald glared at her. “Go away. What do you know?”

“It’s true.” She had overheard Edmund mention that the rift in the sky was widening and that Core Formation cultivators could now leave.

But she obviously couldn’t say Edmund told her. So after a split second of thought, she said, “My master told me.”

Gerald immediately straightened. “Mr. Drake said that?”

“Yes. You might not believe me—but you believe my master, right?”

If it was Drake’s word… Gerald’s expression shifted. No wonder Herbert went in without hesitation. There was a way out.

Gerald rolled up his sleeves. “Fine. I’m going in too.”

“Master!”

“Sect Leader!”

Lauren and Dante grabbed him at the same time.

“What now?” Gerald barked. “I’m helping Herbert. He can’t handle this alone.”

“If you go in, you won’t be able to come out,” Lauren said quickly.

Gerald froze. “…Didn’t you just say people could come out?”

“Only Core Formation and below. Sect Leader… you’re a Mahayana cultivator. You’re too strong. You won’t make it through the exit.”

Gerald stared at her. “How do you know so much?”

“My master told me.”

Gerald pursed his lips. For the first time, he felt vaguely uneasy. Why did Drake know all this… but he didn’t?

Lauren pressed on, “Herbert didn’t go in just for Timothy. He went to stop Indiana from reinforcing the seal. Sect Leader, don’t worry. If the seal breaks completely, everyone will be able to leave.”

Gerald blinked. “Seal? What seal?”

He had heard them mention it earlier, and even Herbert knew. Which meant he was the only one standing here clueless. Infuriating.

“Master, don’t look at me,” Dante said quickly. “I don’t know either.”

Lauren sighed. “It’s complicated. It’s a seal that suppresses ascension.”

“…What?” Gerald’s face changed.

“Sect Leader, you should really ask my master about the details. Right now…” She glanced at the valley entrance, anxiety gnawing at her. She had no idea what was happening inside.

“Wait for me here,” she said abruptly. “I’m going to buy more sheep.” She should’ve bought a whole flock the first time.

Gerald grabbed her sleeve. “You’re sending another message in?”

Lauren nodded. “Aren’t you worried they’ll start fighting? Maybe a message could help.”

Gerald snorted. “You don’t know the lunatics inside. They won’t listen to you.”

Lauren had a headache. If she said she’d already been inside once, he’d start interrogating her for three days straight. So she changed tactics.

“Senior Brother is inside,” she said instead. “Do you remember Freya?”

Gerald’s eyes widened. “Freya? Isn’t he dead?”

“It’s… complicated,” Lauren said vaguely. “Master said he’s inside. You and Dante stay here and keep watch. I’ll be back.”

“Wait.”

Lauren closed her eyes briefly. What did I even drag you here for?

Gerald continued, “A sheep won’t help much. That message only goes in—it doesn’t come back. Dante, send word to the sect. Have your junior brother come here.”

“Which one?”

“Malcolm. Quickly.”

Dante nodded and immediately sent the transmission.

Lauren frowned. “Why Malcolm?”

Gerald gave her a look. “Didn’t you say those at Core Formation and below can leave? Malcolm’s only at Foundation Establishment. No problem.”

“…And?”

“He has a Light Spirit Root,” Gerald said matter-of-factly. “That kid we picked up from the fishing village years ago. That old bald monk won’t kill someone with a Light Spirit Root.”

Lauren forced a smile. She almost said—

Master Light isn’t actually that bad. Maybe there was another reason he entered the valley back then.

If he went in willingly… Then it probably had something to do with ascension.

Using the teleportation array didn’t take long.

Dante personally went to the city gates to receive him, while Gerald paced anxiously at the entrance to Sky-Covering Valley, occasionally reaching over to poke at Briar just to vent his nerves.

Lauren stood at the boundary, craning her neck to peer inside.

From the outside, the valley looked no different—quiet, oppressive, silent as a grave. Which only made it worse.

After a short while, Dante returned with a young man whose skin was so pale it almost glowed.

There was a faint white radiance clinging to his face. If not for his long, ink-black hair, he would’ve looked like some holy little monk who had wandered out of a temple painting.

Lauren recognized him immediately. The boy they had picked up from that tiny fishing village years ago.

“Miss Lauren,” he greeted her respectfully.

Gerald wasted no time pulling him aside.

“Malcolm, listen carefully. Go in quietly. Don’t let anyone see you. Take a look at what’s happening inside, then come back out and report.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a vest and shoved it over Malcolm’s shoulders.

“This will conceal your aura. They won’t notice you. If you are discovered, find the bald monk inside—the strongest bald one. That’s him. He’ll protect you.”

He leaned closer. “And when it’s safe, find a way to get out.”

Then he turned to Lauren. “You said they come out through the crack in the sky, right?”

“Yes.”

Gerald grabbed Malcolm’s shoulders and repeated loudly, “There’s a crack in the sky. You exit through the crack in the sky. Understand?”

“I understand, Master.”

“Good. Our hope rests on you. Go.”

Malcolm nodded and stepped into Sky-Covering Valley.

The moment he disappeared, Gerald resumed pacing, wringing his hands like an anxious old father sending his child into battle.

Dante thoughtfully conjured a table and chairs. “Master, please sit. Have some tea to calm yourself.”

Gerald sat down and downed the cup in one gulp.

Dante handed another to Lauren. “Miss Lauren?”

She accepted it. No telling how long this would take.

They hadn’t even finished a cup— When suddenly— A figure fell from the sky.

Gerald dropped his teacup and rushed forward. “Malcolm! What’s happening in there?”

Malcolm’s face was pale. “They’re fighting.”

Gerald’s heart jumped. “Fighting? Who’s fighting who?”

Malcolm hesitated. “…I don’t know.”

Everyone: “…”

“I don’t recognize any of them,” he added awkwardly.

Gerald rubbed his forehead. “Did you see Herbert?”

Malcolm blinked. “Who’s Herbert?”

Gerald snapped, “The ugliest one!”

Lauren shot him a look. “The tall one. Looks like a blacksmith.”

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